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PUBLICATIONS  OF 

THE /  NANTUCKET  MARIA  MITCHELL  ASSOCIATION 
VOL.  I,  No.  1. 


APR  19  1932 


pleistocene 

of 


anb  fEtyetr  jfosisitlsi. 


JOSEPH  AUGUSTINE  CUSH 


NANTUCKET,  MASS. 

FEBRUARY 

1906. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF 

THE  NANTUCKET  MARIA  MITCHELL  ASSOCIATION 
VOL.  I,  No.  1. 

First  Edition  Printed  February,  1906  Reprinted  May,  1931 


THE  PLEISTOCENE  DEPOSITS 

OF 

SANKOTY  HEAD,  NANTUCKET, 

AND  THEIR  FOSSILS. 


JOSEPH  AUGUSTINE  CUSHMAN. 


NANTUCKET,  MASS. 

FEBRUARY 

1906. 


/ 

THE  PLEISTOCENE  DEPOSITS 

OF  SANKOTY  HEAD,  NANTUCKET, 

AND  THEIR  FOSSILS. 


CONTENTS  : — 

I.  Historical  Summary.  .         .         .         .  p.    3. 

II.  The  Exposed  Cliff  Section.         .         .         .  p.    6. 

III.  The  Occurrence  of  the  Fossils.     .         .         .  p.    8. 

IV.  Systematic  List  of  the  Fossils.     .          .         .  p.   9. 

V.  Literature  Relating  to  the  Sankoty  Deposits  .  p.  20. 


I.     HISTORICAL  SUMMARY. 

The  earliest  record  of  the  fossiliferous  beds  at  Sankoty  Head 
appears  to  be  that  of  Desor.  In  1848  he  visited  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  island  in  company  with  Lieutenant  Davis,  U.  S.  N., 
and  discovered  the  fossils  in  the  two  beds  in  the  cliffs  of  "San- 
cati."  A  visit  was  also  made  to  the  cliff  with  Edward  C.  Cabot, 
during  which  a  collection  of  the  fossils  was  made.  These  fossils 
were  exhibited  at  a  meeting  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  His- 
tory, November  18,  1848,  and  a  paper  describing  the  deposits  read 
at  the  same  time.  An  abstract  of  this  paper  is  given  in  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Society  and  an  account  also  in  the  first  Proceedings 
of  the  American  Association. 

In  February  1849,  there  appeared  a  paper  by  Messrs.  Desor  and 
Cabot  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  of  Lon- 
don. In  this  a  somewhat  lengthy  account  is  given  of  the  exposed 


897 


4  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

section  and  the  occurrence  of  the  fossils.  Their  conclusions  were 
based  upon  an  insufficient  knowledge  of  the  region  and  are  later 
referred  to  by  Merill  as  "some  stratigraphical  generalizations 
which  were  entirely  imaginary."  They  supposed  a  Tertiary  basin 
underlying  Martha's  Vineyard  and  Nantucket,  the  deposits  at  Gay 
Head  marking  one  side  of  the  basin,  those  at  Sankoty  Head  mark- 
ing the  other.  Among  other  points  a  distinction  is  made  between 
the  lower  bed  in  which  bivalves  were  "found  in  their  natural  posi- 
tion, both  valves  together,  showing  that  the  animals  died  in  the 

place  in  which  they  lived "     The  shells  in  the  two  beds 

are  spoken  of  as  being  the  same,  although  those  of  the  upper  bed 
were  "bleached  and  more  or  less  worn"  therefore  "exposed  to  the 
action  of  the  waves  before  they  were  buried."  A  list  of  seventeen 
species  is  given  with  a  brief  note  as  to  their  abundance. 

For  over  twenty-five  years  the  work  of  Desor  and  Cabot  was  not 
added  to  or  confirmed.  In  the  summer  of  1875,  however,  with  the 
establishment  of  the  U.  S.  Fish  Commission  at  Woods  Hole,  activ- 
ity was  again  manifested.  A  party  consisting  of  Prof.  Alpheus 
Hyatt,  Mr.  Sanderson  Smith,  Mr.  C.  H.  Merriam  and  others 
visited  the  cliff  and  collected  fossils.  It  was  visited  later  by  Mr. 

5.  H.  Scudder  of  Cambridge  who  made  an  extensive  excavation  to 
expose  the  fossiliferous  beds.     Mr.  Richard  Rathbun  also  visited 
the  locality  for  the  Commission  and  collected  largely,  keeping  dis- 
tinct the  fossils  of  the  upper  and  lower  beds.    Mr.  Scudder  exhib- 
ited his  collection  at  the  meeting  of  the  Boston  Society  on  October 

6,  1875,  and  gave  an  account  of  them  and  of  the  cliff.    With  Prof. 
A.  E.  Verrill,  he  also  published  a  paper  in  the  American  Journal 
of  Science  in  November  of  the  same  year.     Mr.  Scudder  in  this 
paper  gives  an  account  of  the  section,  while  Prof.  Verrill  limits 
himself  mainly  to  the  fossils.     In  Prof.  Verrill's  list  are  given 
sixty-three  species  and  varieties,  with  the  bed  in  which  each  occurs, 
distinguished  for  the  first  time.    He  also  makes  certain  biological 
deductions  as  a  result  of  this  study  of  the  two  beds,  showing  that 
the  animals  of  the  lower  bed  were  of  a  decidedly  southern  char- 
acter while  the  upper  bed  contains  a  more  northern  assemblage. 
This  seems  to  indicate  a  change  in  conditions  between  the  deposi- 
tion of  these  two  layers. 

Until  1889  no  further  work  appeared  upon  these  deposits.  At 
that  time  Prof.  S  baler's  paper  on  the  Geology  of  Nantucket  was 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  5 

published.  In  this  he  reviews  the  work  of  previous  writers  and 
compares  their  statements  with  the  exact  conditions  existing  there. 
Much  of  the  work  of  Desor  and  Cabot,  Scudder,  and  Verrill  is 
republished.  No  new  fossils  are  added  but  a  considerable  amount 
is  done  on  the  section  exposed  there. 

In  1896  Arthur  Hollick  published  some  notes  on  the  cliff  and 
gives  a  list  of  the  fossils  he  observed  there,  adding  somewhat  to 
the  list.  At  the  same  time  a  short  paper  by  Frederick  J.  H.  Mer- 
rill gives  a  detailed  section  of  the  cliff  in  which  are  distinguished 
four  fossiliferous  layers.  Lists  are  given  of  the  fossils  found  in 
the  various  layers  recognized.  These  add  several  species  to  the 
list  given  by  Prof.  Verrill  to  whose  generalizations  in  regard  to  the 
beds  and  their  formation  exceptions  are  taken.  The  exceptions  are 
in  favor  of  transportation  of  the  original  material  to  its  present 
position. 

In  September  1904,  the  writer  published  a  paper  giving  a  list  of 
the  fossils  known  from  the  deposits  and  adding  a  new  one.  These 
were  arranged  in  tabular  form  to  show  their  relations  in  the  four 
beds  and  their  present  range,  as  either  northern  or  southern  forms, 
indicated.  The  relations  of  the  fossils  of  these  four  beds  are  con- 
sidered, the  range  of  the  species  being  taken  as  a  basis. 

During  the  summer  of  1904,  Mr.  J.  Howard  Wilson  spent  some 
time  at  Sankoty  Head  and  made  a  considerable  excavation  there. 
He  collected  many  fossils  a  number  of  which  had  not  previously 
been  known  from  these  deposits.  A  notice  of  Mr.  Wilson's  work 
appeared  in  Science,  in  June  1905.  In  an  early  paper  a  complete 
account  of  the  work  is  looked  for. 

Since  the  formation  of  the  Nantucket  Maria  Mitchell  Associa- 
tion, local  interest  in  these  deposits  has  been  awakened.  Several 
of  the  members  of  the  Association  have  been  enthusiastic  in  trying 
to  add  to  the  already  long  list  of  fossils  from  the  cliff.  Chief 
among  these  may  be  mentioned  Miss  Elizabeth  Kite,  who  relocated 
the  deposits  and  collected  many  specimens,  and  Mrs.  Albertson,  the 
Curator,  to  whose  interest  the  work  is  mainly  due  at  present.  In 
1905  a  special  committee  was  appointed  to  as  far  as  possible  obtain 
more  specimens  from  the  cliff.  On  July  4,  1905,  a  collecting  trip 
was  made  to  Sankoty  Head  and  proved  to  be  very  successful.  A 
section  was  made  through  the  fossiliferous  beds  and  the  section 
photographed.  A  reproduction  of  this  is  given  on  Plate  II.  A  con- 


6  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

siderable  number  of  specimens  were  collected,  especially  of  the 
smaller  mollusks.  A  number  of  crab  claws  were  also  obtained. 
Some  of  the  results  of  the  collecting  trip  were  published  by  the 
writer  in  the  American  Geologist  for  September.  A  number  of 
species  not  previously  recorded  were  found,  as  well  as  others 
which  are  rare. 


II.     THE  EXPOSED  CLIFF  SECTION. 

That  the  cliff  section  shown  at  Sankoty  Head  has  changed  since 
the  first  mention  of  it  by  Desor  and  Cabot,  is  very  certain.  At 
that  time  and  for  many  years  following,  the  waves  attacked  the 
base  of  the  cliff,  gradually  eating  their  way  into  it  and  causing  a 
complete  exposure  of  the  beds  from  top  to  bottom.  Since  the 
time  of  the  earliest  observers  there  has  come  about,  what  may  be 
considered  a  radical  change.  The  beach,  from  the  angle  of  the 
island  near  Siasconset,  has  gradually  been  extending  northward  so 
that  for  some  years  the  base  of  the  cliff  has  been  protected  from 
the  erosive  action  of  the  waves.  As  a  result  of  this  protection,  a 
large  part  of  the  surface  of  the  cliff  has  now  become  clothed  with 
vegetation.  This  covering  is  mainly  of  the  coarse  grass  which  so 
readily  obtains  a  foothold  when  actual  erosion  is  prevented.  This 
change  of  the  contour  of  the  beaches  has  for  years  been  given 
much  attention.  In  this  particular  case  its  practical  side  is  seen, 
for  if  active  erosion  should  continue  the  lighthouse  might  become 
endangered.  This  protection  makes  harder  the  work  of  excavation 
and  necessitates  removing  a  large  amount  of  loose  material  in 
order  to  reach  portions  which  are  in  their  original  condition. 

From  comparisons  made  during  the  past  summer  the  section 
at  present  conforms  most  nearly  to  that  given  by  Merrill  in  1896, 
although  in  the  fossiliferous  beds  a  difference  in  thickness  was 
noted.  It  is  probable  that  these  beds  are  of  varying  thickness  in 
their  different  parts.  The  following  section  is  given  by  Merrill  at 
a  point  about  three  hundred  yards  south  of  the  lighthouse,  where 
the  last  summer's  work  was  done : 


PLATE  JI. 


DETAILS  OF  SECTION   THROUGH   THE   FOSSI  LI  FERGUS    BEDS, 
(From  photo,  taken  July  4,  1905  by  Dr.   Richmond.) 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils. 


1.  Fine  dark  drifted  sand  . .. 3  feet 

2.  Yellow  sandy  drift,  ferruginous  at  the  bottom  and  con- 

taining pebbles   i 5  " 

4.  Coarse  gray  stratified  sand,  with  particles  of  greensand  .40  " 

5.  Fragment  bed  [4]    1  " 

6.  Upper  shell  bed   [3] 8  inches 

7.  Clayey  ferruginous  sand 4       " 

8.  Serpula  sand  [2]   , 1  "    3       " 

9.  Lower  shell  bed   [1]    9      " 

10.  Red  sand,  with  fragments  of  blue  clay 1  " 

11.  White  sand  of  varying  quality  and  size 4  " 

Concealed  by  turf  and  beach  sand 24  " 


Total .91  feet 

In  the  excavation  made  the  last  summer  the  thickness  of  the 
upper  two  fossiliferous  beds  seems  to  be  much  the  same  or  even 
of  less  thickness,  while  both  the  intermediate  sand  and  the  lower 
layers  seem  to  be  much  thicker  than  given  above. 

A  photograph  of  the  section  is  given  on  Plate  II.  As  the  light 
late  in  the  afternoon  was  not  strong  enough  to  bring  out  the 
contacts,  pieces  of  fossil  shell  were  inserted  for  guides.  At  the 
top  of  the  plate  is  shown  the  fine  white  sand,  No.  4  of  the 
section.  The  ferruginous  streaks  and  the  bedding  are  easily  made 
out.  Below  this  between  the  two  upper  pieces  of  shell  is  the 
fragment  bed,  of  lighter  color  than  the  one  below,  due  to  the  mass 
of  shell  fragments.  Below  this  and  extending  to  the  floor  of  the 
first  shelf  of  the  excavation  is  the  upper  shell  bed,  No.  6  of  the 
section.  The  floor  of  this  upper  shelf  is  formed  by  layer  No.  7,  a 
clayey  ferruginous  sand.  The  bed  can  be  distinguished  in  the 
photograph,  especially  on  the  right.  It  extends  downward  to  a 
point  slightly  below  the  shell  fragment  in  its  face.  Below  this  is 
the  Serpula  bed,  made  up  of  tubes,  frequently  covered  by  Bryozoa, 
and  also  a  few  shells.  This  is  the  thickest  of  the  fossiliferous 
beds.  Its  contact  with  the  lower  shell  bed  may  be  made  out  at 
the  right  of  the  excavation,  slightly  below  the  handle  of  the 
shovel.  From  this  point  to  nearly  the  top  of  the  blade  of  the 
shovel  extends  the  lower  shell  bed,  the  shells  in  place  easily  made 
out  in  the  photograph.  From  this  to  the  lower  shelf  on  which  the 
shovel  rests  is  layer  No.  10 :  a  reddish  sand  with  pieces  of  sticky 
blue  clay.  This  also  makes  up  the  floor  of  the  shelf  and  its 
contact  with  the  white  sand  bed  below  it  may  be  made  out  in  the 
vertical  face  nearest  the  observer. 


8  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

The  exposed  section,  shown  on  Plate  II,  corresponds  as  will  be 
seen,  in  all  essential  characters  to  that  given  above  by  Merrill. 
Another  visit  to  the  locality  was  planned  for  September  4th,  but 
the  hard  storm  at  that  time  made  the  trip  impossible. 


III.     THE  OCCURRENCE  OF  THE  FOSSILS. 

One  of  the  first  things  that  strikes  one  as  he  begins  to  dig  these 
fossils  is  their  fragile  condition.  Like  so  many  similar  deposits, 
the  shells  are  soft  and  moist  when  first  dug  out  and  must  be  han- 
dled with  extreme  care.  Upon  drying  and  exposure  to  the  air  they 
become  much  harder  and  firmer.  In  their  natural  condition  they 
are  much  darker,  as  a  rule,  than  they  are  after  exposure  to  the 
air  and  light. 

Many  of  the  shells,  especially  in  the  upper  bed,  are  represented 
only  by  fragments,  great  masses  of  which  appear.  On  the  other 
hand,  especially  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  many  excellently  preserved 
shells  are  found.  Among  these  are  many  of  the  Gastropods  with 
the  apical  whorls  and  the  protoconch  in  excellent  condition.  Many 
of  the  shells  of  Venus  mercenaria  had  the  purple  inner  border  of 
the  shell  preserved  to  a  surprising  degree. 

In  the  lower  bed  many  of  the  bivalves  were  found  with  both 
valves  together  and  the  shell  in  the  position  of  life.  This  was 
noted  especially  in  Area,  Venus,  Ostrea  and  Mytilus. 

A  considerable  number  of  attached  forms  are  noted,  such  as  the 
various  species  of  Bryozoa  on  shells  and  on  the  tubes  of  Hydroides 
dianthus.  Shells  of  Ostrea,  Venus  and  Area  show  the  borings  of 
Cliona  sulphur -ea. 

Among  other  groups  than  the  Mollusca  the  evidence  is  usually 
fragmentary.  Spines  of  sea  urchins  are  not  uncommon  and  a 
considerable  number  of  crab  claws  were  obtained.  These  are  most 
easily  seen  after  the  excavated  material  has  been  exposed  to  the 
weather  for  a  time. 

Many  of  the  shells  show  beautiful  dendritic  markings.  The 
clam  shells  seem  to  have  this  more  prominently  shown  than  the 
others.  A  number  of  the  others,  however,  show  the  markings  to 
a  lesser  degree. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  p 

IV.     SYSTEMATIC  LIST  OF  THE  FOSSILS.  ..." 

In  the  following  list  are  included  all  the  records  for  these 
deposits*.  The  names  used  vary  somewhat  from  those  under  which 
the  species  were  originally  reported  and  for  sake  of  clearness, 
many  of  the  older  names  are  given  in  parentheses  after  the  name 
accepted  in  present  usage.  Also,  after  the  name,  is  given  the 
reference  to  the  paper  in  which  the  first  record  of  the  particular 
species  from  this  locality  was  published.  Where  specimens  of 
the  species  are  in  the  collection  of  the  Nantucket  Maria  Mitchell 
Association,  an  asterisk  is  placed  before  the  particular  species. 
For  brevity  in  referring  to  the  fossiliferous  beds,  they  are  num- 
bered 1-4,  beginning  at  the  bottom.  This  is  indicated  by  the 
figures  in  brackets  in  the  table  showing  the  complete  section  as 
given  by  Merrill.  To  Mr.  Chas.  W.  Johnson  I  am  greatly  indebted 
for  help  with  the  nomenclature  of  the  Mollusca. 

PROTOZOA. 

*MlLIOLINA   SUBROTUNDA  MontagU. 

A  single  specimen  of  this  species  was  found  by  the  writer  in 
sand  from  the  lower  bed,  No.  I. 

PORIFERA. 

*CLIONA  SULPHUREA  (Desor).     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Many  of  the  larger  bivalves  of  the  lower  bed,  especially  Ostrea 
and  Venus  are  bored  by  this  sponge. 

ECHINODERMATA. 

*STRONGYLOCENTROTUS  DROBACHIENSIS  (Mull.)  (Verrill,  1875, 
p.  375). 

Spines  of  this  sea  urchin  are  not  uncommon  in  bed  No.  3.  In 
material  which  has  been  exposed  to  the  air  the  spines  are  easily 
seen. 

ANNELIDA. 

*HYDROIDES  DIANTHUS  (Verr.)  (Serpula  dianthus,  Verrill, 
1875,  p.  373). 

Serpula  is  mentioned  by  Desor  and  Cabot.  It  makes  up  a  large 
part  of  bed  No.  2,  but  is  also  common  in  the  lowest  bed  on  oyster 
shells,  etc. 


*FOOTNOTE.     The  recent  paper  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Wilson  has  added  to  the  list  given  here. 


io  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

BRYOZOA. 

*HIPPOTHOA  VARIABILIS  (Leidy).     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 
Found  in  beds  1  and  2  encrusting  Hydroides  tubes. 

*MEMBRANIPORA  TENUIS  Desor.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 
Found  on  shells  of  the  lower  bed,  No.  1. 

MEMBRANIPORA  CATENULARIA  Smitt.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 
Found  on  shells  of  the  lower  bed,  No.  1. 

ESCHARA  VERRUCOSA  Esper.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  374). 
On  shells  of  Ceronia  from  bed  No.  3. 

CELLEPORARIA  INCRASSATA  Smitt?    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  374). 
Reported  by  Verrill  from  the  upper  bed,  No.  3. 

MOLLUSC  A— PELECYPODA. 

*ARCA  TRANSVERSA  Say.     (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 
This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the  shells  of  the  lower  bed, 
No.  1,  but  is  also  found  sparingly  in  beds  2  and  3. 

*ARCA  LIMULA  Conrad.  (Area  ponderosa,  Cushman,  1904, 
pp.  170,  172,  1905,  p.  195). 

This  is  not,  as  was  first  supposed,  Area  ponderosa  Say,  but  is 
Area  limula  Conrad,  a  southern  fossil  shell.  The  species  is  appar- 
ently limited  to  the  lower  bed.  During  the  summer  a  complete 
specimen  was  found  with  both  valves  together  and  the  shells  up- 
right in  the  position  of  life. 

ARCA  PEXATA  Say.     (Merrill,  1896,  p.  13). 

Reported  from  a  layer  between  Nos.  2  and  3.  No  specimens 
have  been  seen  by  the  writer  and  the  record  is  left  upon  Merrill's 
authority. 

*OSTREA  VIRGINICA  Gmel.  (Ostrea  borealis,  Desor  and  Cabot, 
1849,  p.  342). 

Apparently  the  most  abundant  shell  of  the  lower  bed.  The  two 
valves  are  frequently  found  together,  and  show  much  variation. 
It  is  frequently  bored  by  Cliona  sulphurea.  This  species  occurs 
with  the  preceding  in  the  intermediate  bed  mentioned  by  Merrill, 
and  also  occasionally  in  bed  No.  3. 

ANOMIA  ACULEATA  Gmel.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  374). 
Found  in  the  upper  shell  bed  No.  3. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  n 

*ANOMIA  SIMPLEX  d'Orb.(Anomia  glabra,  Verrill,  1875,  p.  372), 
Fairly  common  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1. 

*MYTILUS  EDULIS  Linn.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 
Found  in  both  the  lower  and  upper  beds,  Nos.  1  and  3,  but  it  is 
much  more  abundant  in  the  latter. 

*MvTiLusHAMATUsSay=M.RECURVUS  Raf.  (Modiola  hamatus, 
Verrill,  1875,  p.  372).  Plate  III  figure  2. 

This  is  fairly  common  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1,  and  is  also 
found  in  bed  No.  2.  During  the  last  summer  a  complete  specimen 
with  both  valves  together  was  found  in  the  lower  bed. 

*MODIOLUS  MODIOLUS  Linn.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  374J. 
Found  in  the  upper  beds.    Nos.  3  and  4. 

*CRENELLA  GLANDULA  Totten.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 

Found  in  beds  1,  3,  and  4.  Those  in  the  upper  beds  seem  to  be 
larger  and  more  common  than  in  the  lower  one.  This  is  the  first 
record  of  this  species  in  bed  No.  4. 

THRACIA  TRUNCATA  Mighels  and  Adams.  (Verrill,  1875,  p. 
372). 

A  few  specimens  referred  to  bed  No.  3  by  Verrill. 

PANDORA  (CLIDIOPHORA)  GOULDIANA  Ball.  (Clidiophora  trilin- 
eata,  Verrill,  1875,  p.  374). 

The  record  for  this  species  is  based  upon  a  single  valve  from  the 
upper  shell  bed,  No.  3,  recorded  by  Verrill. 

PANDORA  CRASSIDENS  Conrad.    (Wilson,  1905,  p.  989). 
Wilson's  record  for  this  species  is  the  first  from  a  formation 
above  the  Miocene.    The  species  is  very  close  to  the  preceding  one. 

*ASTARTE  CASTANEA  Say.    (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 

Abundant  in  the  upper  shell  bed,  No.  3.  Also  found  by  Mer- 
rill in  bed  No.  2. 

*ASTARTE  QUADRANS  Gould.     (Hollick,  1896,  p.  9). 

This  species  occurs  sparingly  in  beds  2  and  4. 

^STARTE  UNDATA  Gould.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  376). 

A  single  worn  valve  of  this  species  from  bed  No.  3  was  found 
by  Verrill  in  the  material  he  examined. 

CRASSINELLA  MACTRACEA  Linsley.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  372). 

From  the  lower  shell  bed  No.  1.  Verrill  records  one  specimen 
of  this  small  species. 


12  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

*VENERICARDIA  (CYCLOCARDIA)  BOREALIS  Conrad.  (Cardita 
borealis,  Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 

Specimens  of  this  shell  are  very  common  in  the  upper  shell  bed 
No.  3. 

*VENERICARDIA  (CYCLOCARDIA)  NOVANGLIAE  Morse.  (Cyclocar- 
dia  novangliae ,  Verrill,  1875,  p.  374). 

Found  sparingly  in  the  upper  two  beds,  Nos.  3  and  4. 

SERRIPES  LAPEROUSII  Desh.     (Wilson,  1905,  p.  989). 
Found  by  Wilson.    The  first  record  for  the  species  east  of  Point 
Barrow. 

*  VENUS  MERCENARY  Linn.  (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 
Plate  III,  figure  1. 

Shells  of  this  species  are  very  abundant  in  the  lower  shell  bed 
No.  1,  and  a  few  are  found  in  beds  2  and  3.  Some  of  the  shells 
have  the  characteristic  purple  of  the  interior  very  well  preserved. 
Many  of  the  shells  are  bored  by  Cliona  sulphured.  To  the  heavy 
thick  forms  of  this  species  from  the  lower  shell  bed,  Verrill  has 
given  the  varietal  name,  antiqua. 

GEMMA  GEMMA  Totten.  (Tottenia  gemnia,  Verrill,  1875, 
p.  372). 

A  few  shells  of  this  species  were  found  by  Verrill  in  material 
from  the  lower  shell  bed. 

*PETRICOLA  PHOLADIFORMIS  Linn.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  371). 
Found  occasionally  in  the  lower  shell  bed. 

TELLINA  (  ANGULUS)  TENERA  Say.    (Angulus  tener  Verrill,  1875, 
p.  371). 

Several  specimens  of  this  species  were  found  by  Verrill  in  ma- 
terial taken  from  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1. 

MACOMA  BALTHICA  Linn.  (Macoma  fragilis,  var.  fusca,  Verrill, 
1875,  p.  374). 

Specimens  of  this  species  are  occasionally  found  in  the  upper 
shell  bed,  No.  4. 

MACOMA  INCONGRUA  V.  Martens.     (Wilson,  1905,  p.  989). 
Found  by  Wilson.    The  first  record  for  the  species  east  of  Point 
Barrow.    It  is  very  close  to  the  preceding  species. 


PLATE  III. 


FIG.  1.  Venus  mercenaria  Linn.,  bored  by  Cliona  sulphured  Desor,  and  with  tubes  of 
Hydroides  dianthus  Verr.  attached.  2.  Mytilus  hamatus  Say.  3.  Cumingia  tellinoides 
Conrad.  4.  Nassa  obsoleta  Say.  5.  Sipho  stimpsoni  Mbrch.,  var.  brevis  Verr.  6. 
Balanus  porcatus  DaCosta.  7.  Neopanope  texana,  sayi  Smith.  8.  Eupanopeus  herbstii 
Milne  Edwards.  9.  Callinectes  sapidus  Rathbun. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  15 

*CUMINGIA  TELLINOIDES  Conrad.  (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849, 
p.  342).  Plate  III.  figure  3. 

Very  common  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1,  and  also  found  in 
the  Serpula  bed,  No.  2. 

*ENSIS  DIRECTUS  Conrad.  (Solen  ensis,  Desor  and  Cabot,  1849, 
p.  342). 

Fragments  of  this  species  are  abundant  in  the  lower  shell  bed, 
but  complete  specimens  are  rare.  It  also  occurs  less  commonly  in 
beds  2  and  3. 

*SPISULA  SOLIDISSIMA  Dillw.  (Mactra  solidissima,  Verrill,  1875, 
p.  374). 

Found  frequently  in  the  upper  shell  bed,  No.  3  and  occasionally 
in  bed  4. 

*MESODESMA  ARCTATA  Conrad.  (Ceronia  arctata,  Verrill,  1875, 
p.  374). 

Common  in  the  upper  shell  bed  No.  3,  and  found  this  last  sum- 
mer in  material  from  bed  No.  4. 

MESODESMA  DEAURATA  Turton.  (Mesodesma  Jauresi,  Hollick, 
1896,  p.  9). 

This  is  reported  by  Hollick  but  the  exact  bed  is  not  given.  It 
is  referred  to  the  upper  shell  bed  No.  3,  until  other  findings  give 
its  exact  position. 

*MYA  ARENARIA  Linn.     (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 

Shells  of  this  species  are  abundant  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1, 
and  some  few  are  found  in  bed  No.  3.  Many  of  the  shells  have 
beautiful  dendritic  markings. 

MYA  TRUNCATA  Linn.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Verrill  reports  several  large  shells  of  this  species  from  the  upper 
shell  bed,  No.  3. 

CORBULA  CONTRACTA  Say.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  371). 
A  single  valve  of  this  species  was  found  by  Verrill  in  material 
taken  from  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1. 

*SAXICAVA  ARCTICA  Linn.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  371). 
Found  in  beds  1  and  3.  The  specimens  from  the  upper  shell  bed 
are  much  more  numerous  and  larger  than  those  of  the  lower  bed. 


16  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

PANOMYA  NORVEGICA  Spengl.  (Saxicava  norvegica,  Verrill,  1875, 
p.  373). 

A  single  valve  of  this  species  is  recorded  by  Verrill  from  the 
upper  shell  bed.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  fragments  recorded 
by  Hollick  as  Panopaea  sp?  may  be  referable  to  this  species. 

MOLLUCSA— GASTROPODA. 

PUNCTURELLA  NOACHiNA  Linn.  (Diodord  noachina,  Verrill, 
1875,  p  373). 

Verrill  records  "two  good  specimens"  of  this  from  the  upper 
shell  bed,  No.  3. 

SOLARIELLA  OBSCURA  Couth.  (Margarita  obscura,  Merrill,  1896, 
p.  13). 

Fragments  of  this  shell  were  found  by  Merrill  in  bed  4. 

SKENEA  PLANORBIS  F.  and  H.     (Merrill,  1896,  p.  13). 
This  species  was  found  by  Merrill  in  bed  4. 

*ODOSTOMIA  IMPRESSA  Say.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  371). 
This  small  shell  is  common  in  the  lower  shell  bed,  No.  1. 

*ODOSTOMIA  SEMINUDA  C.  B.  Adams.  (Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 
Specimens  of  this  species  were  found  during  the  last  summer  in 
loose  material  evidently  from  bed  No.  1. 

*ODOSTOMIA  TRIFIDA  Gould.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 
Fairly  common   in  the   lower  shell  bed,   but  apparently  less 
common  than  O.  impressa  Say.    It  is  also  found  in  bed  No.  1. 

*ODOSTOMIA  BISUTURALIS  Say.     (Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 
Found  during  the  last  summer  with  O.  seminuda  C.  B.  Adams. 

*ODOSTOMIA  FUSCA  C.  B.  Adams.     (Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 
A   single  specimen,   apparently   referable  to  this   species  was 
found  in  the  loose  material. 

TURBONILLA  INTERRUPTA  Totten.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  371). 
Found  sparingly  in  beds  1  and  2. 

SCALA  GROENLANDICA  Perry.    (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 
Very  rare,  apparently  found  in  bed  No.  3,  as  it  is  a  northern 
species. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  17 

*SCALA  FRAGILIS  Gray?    (Scala ,  Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 

A  single  specimen  of  this  species  was  found  by  the  writer  in  the 
loose  material  this  last  summer.  For  a  clue  as  to  the  relations  of 
this  puzzling  specimen  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  W.  H.  Dall. 

*CREPIDULA  CONVEXA  Say.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 
Found  in  both  beds,  1  and  2,  but  it  is  not  common. 

*CREPIDULA  FORNICATA  Lam'k.  (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 

This  species  is  abundant  in  the  lower  shell  bed  No.  1  and  is  also 
found,  in  much  less  numbers,  in  beds  2  and  3.  In  some  cases  the 
original  color  of  the  shell  is  very  well  preserved. 

*CREPIDULA  PLANA  Say.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 
Common  in  bed  No.  1,  also  found  in  bed  No.  3,  but  in  fewer 
numbers. 

*CRUCIBULUM  STRIATUM  Say.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 

Verrill  reports  one  large  specimen  of  this  species  from  the  upper 
shell  bed  No.  3.  Merrill  also  reports  it  from  this  bed.  There  are 
specimens  of  this  species  in  the  collection  at  Nantucket. 

*LUNATIA  HEROS  Say.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Found  in  both  of  the  upper  beds,  3  and  4.    The  specimens  have 
usually  lost  their  organic  matter  and  the  shells  are  very  fragile. 

*Var.  TRISERIATA  Say.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Verrill  records  a  single  specimen  of  this  banded  form  from  the 
upper  bed,  but  it  is  fairly  common  there. 

NEVERITA  DUPLICATA  Say.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
A  single  broken  specimen  is  recorded  by  Verrill  from  the  upper 
shell  bed. 

CINGULA  (ONOBA)  ACULEUS  Gould.  (Rissoa  aculea,  Merrill, 
1896,  p.  13). 

Merrill  records  this  species  from  bed  No.  4. 

CAECUM  PULCHELLUM  Stimpson.     (Merrill,  1896,  p.  14). 
Recorded  by  Merrill  from  bed  4. 

*CERITHIOPSIS  GREENII  C.  B.  Adams.     (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 

Verrill  records  four  specimens  of  this  species  from  the  lower 
bed.  There  is  no  other  record  from  these  deposits  until  that  of 
the  single  very  perfect  specimen  found  in  the  loose  materials  this 
last  summer  by  the  writer. 


i8  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

ASTYRIS  LUNATA  Say.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 
The  single  specimen  recorded  by  Verrill  stands  as  the  only 
record  for  these  deposits.    It  was  from  the  lower  shell  bed. 

BUCCINUM  UNDATUM  Linn.     (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 
This  species  is  found  in  both  beds  3  and  4.     It  is  a  fairly 
common  species  in  the  former  bed. 

*NASSA  TRIVITTATA  Say.    (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 
Found  in  both  the  upper  and  lower  shell  beds,  Nos.  1  and  3, 
but  much  more  commonly  in  the  upper. 

*NASSA  (ILYANASSA)  OBSOLETA  Say.  (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849, 
p.  342).  Plate  III  figure  4. 

This  species  is  found  in  all  the  four  fossiliferous  beds  of  the 
deposit,  but  it  is  much  more  common  in  the  lower  shell  bed  than 
in  any  of  the  others. 

*UROSALPINX  CINEREA  Say.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 
Specimens  of  this  species  have  been  found  in  beds  1,  2  and  3, 
but  are  much  more  common  in  the  lowest  bed  than  in  the  others. 

*EUPLEURA  CAUDATA  Say.     Verrill,  1875,  p.  370). 

Verrill  records  a  single  specimen  of  this  species  from  the  lower 
shell  bed.  The  collection  from  Nantucket,  however,  contains  this 
species. 

*SIPHO  STIMPSONI  Morch.,  var.,  BREVIS  Verrill.  (Neptunea 
curta,  Verrill,  1875,  p.  373.  Chrysodomus  curta,  Cushman,  1904,  p. 
171.  Sipho  stimpsoni,  Cushman,  1905,  p.  195).  Plate  III  figure  5. 

This  shell  is  the  variety  brevis  of  Verrill.  He  records  it  from 
the  upper  shell  bed.  There  is  in  the  collection  at  Nantucket,  a 
very  perfect  specimen  of  this  species  with  the  protoconch  excel- 
lently preserved. 

*NEPTUNEA  DECEMCOSTATUS  Say.  (Chrysodomus  decemcostatus, 
Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 

There  is  in  the  collection  at  Nantucket  a  fairly  large  specimen 
of  this  species,  but  somewhat  broken. 

TROPHON   CLATHRATUS  Linn.      (Fusus  scalariforinis,  Merrill, 
1896,  p.  12.    Trophon  scalariforinis ,  Cushman,  1904,  p.  171). 
Merrill  records  this  species  from  the  Serpula  bed,  No.  2. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  ip 

CRUSTACEA. 

*BALANUS  CRENATUS  Briig.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Common  in  the  lower  shell  bed  No.  1,  usually  with  the  parts  of 
the  shell  separated. 

*BALANUS  PORCATUS  DaCosta.  (Verrill,  1875,  p.  374).  Plate 
III,  figure  6. 

Found  in  beds  1,  3  and  4.  The  specimens  from  the  upper  shell 
bed  No.  3,  are  exceptionally  large.  So  far  as  seen  the  parts  are 
always  separated. 

*BALANUS  EBURNEUS  Gould.    (Verrill,  1875,  p.  373). 
Entire  specimens  of  this  species  are  common  attached  to  Ostrea 
and  other  shells. 

*BALANUS  IMPROVISUS  Darwin. 

Certain  of  the  smaller  barnacles  seem  to  belong  to  this  species. 

The  opercular  valves  are  like  those  figured  and  described  by 

Darwin  for  this  species.  They  were  from  the  lower  shell  bed  No.  1. 

*NEOPANOPE  TEXANA  SAYI  Smith.  (Cushman,  1905,  p.  195). 
Plate  III,  figure  7. 

The  claws  of  this  species  are  fairly  common.  They  probably 
belong  to  bed  No.  1. 

*EUPANOPEUS  HERBSTII  Milne  Edwards.  (Cushman,  1905, 
p.  195).  Plate  III,  figure  8. 

A  single  claw  of  this  crab  was  found,  associated  with  the 
preceding. 

*CALLINECTES  SAPIDUS  Rathbun.  (Wilson,  1905,  p.  990).  Plate 
III  figure  9. 

A  single  claw  of  this  species  was  found  with  the  others. 

PAGURUS  POLLICARIS  Say.    (Desor  and  Cabot,  1849,  p.  342). 

The  original  record  of  Desor  and  Cabot  is  the  only  one  for  the 
species.  Their  specimens  may  have  belonged  to  one  of  the  above 
species  may  have  been  wrongly  identified. 


20  The  Pleistocene  Deposits  of  Sankoty 

V.     LITERATURE  RELATING  TO  THE  SANKOTY 
HEAD  DEPOSITS. 

1849.  DESOR,  E.  On  a  deposit  of  drift  shells  in  the  cliffs  of  San- 
cati,  Island  of  Nantucket.  Am.  Assoc.,  Proc.,  vol.  1, 
1849,  pp.  100,  101. 

1849.  DESOR,  E.  and  CABOT,  EDWARD  C.  On  the  Tertiary  and 
more  recent  deposits  in  the  Island  of  Nantucket. 
Geol.  Soc.,  Quart.  Journ.,  vol.  5,  1849,  pv.  340-342. 

1851.  DESOR,   E.     Drift   fossils   from   Nantucket.     Bost.   Soc. 

Nat.  Hist.,  Proc.,  vol.  3, 1851,  pp.  79,  80. 

1852.  DESOR,  E.     Post-Pliocene  of  the  Southern  States  and  its 

relation  to  the  Laurentian  of  the  North  and  the  de- 
posits of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  Am.  Journ. 
Sci.,  second  series,  vol.  XIV,  1852,  pp.  49-59. 

1875.  SCUDDER,  SAMUEL  H.  Note  on  the  Post-Pliocene  strata  of 
Sankoty  Head.  Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  third  series, 
vol.  10, 1875,  pp.  365-366. 

1875.  VERRILL,  ADDISON  E.  On  the  Post-Pliocene  fossils  of 
Sankoty  Head,  Nantucket  Island,  with  a  note  on  the 
geology,  by  S.  H.  Scudder.  Am.  Journ.  Sci.,  third 
series,  vol.  10,  1875,  pp.  364-375. 

1877.  SCUDDER,  SAMUEL  H.  Post-Pliocene  fossils  near  Sankoty 
Head,  Nantucket.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Proc.,  vol. 
18,  pp.  182-185. 

1889.  SHALER,  NATHANIEL  S.  The  Geology  of  Nantucket,  U.  S. 
Geol.  Surv.,  Bull.  No.  53.  1889. 

1896.  HOLLICK,  ARTHUR.  Geological  Notes.  Long  Island  and 
Nantucket.  N.  Y.  Acad.  Sci.,  Trans.,  vol.  15,  1896, 
pp.  3-10. 

1896.     MERRILL,   FREDERICK  J.   H.     Post-Pliocene  Deposits  of 
Sankaty  Head.    N.  Y.  Acad.  Sci.,  Trans.,  vol.  15, 
1896,  pp.  10-16. 

1904.     CUSHMAN,  JOSEPH  A.    Notes  on  the  Pleistocene  Fauna  of 
Sankaty    Head,    Nantucket,     Mass.      Am.    Geol., 
vol.  34~,  1904,  pp.  169-174. 


Head,  Nantucket,  and  their  Fossils.  21 

1905.  WILSON,  J.  HOWARD.  The  Pleistocene  Beds  of  Sankaty 
Head,  Nantucket.  Science.  N.  S.  vol.  21,  1905, 
pp.  989-990. 

1905.     CUSHMAN,  JOSEPH  A.    Notes  on  Fossils  obtained  at  Sank- 
aty  Head,    Nantucket   in  July    1905.     Am.    GeoL, 
vol.  36, 1905,  pp.  194-195. 

1905.  WILSON,  J.  HOWARD.  The  Pleistocene  Formations  of 
Sankoty  Head,  Nantucket.  Journ.  Geol.,  vol  13, 
No.  8,  Nov.-Dec.  1905,  pp.  713-734. 


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